Signal Meter

[kalhua]

I am looking into purchasing a Satellite Signal Meter. I have narrowed my search down to either the BirDog or 10-Signaloc-Pro. I have read through the various post but have not found enough info to determine whether one is better than the other. I would use the meter to locate the various satellite on Dish, Evu & DTV. I would also like to locate and identify any of the others availible in my area. I have read that the BirDog will not work with Universal LNBF.... what Satellite require this type of System. Thanks in advance for any info!

[bobkat]

I use a Birdog and find it very accurate and precise. I have not tried the other Signaloc Pro meter. Some satellites require the use of a universal LNB - but if you are only finding BEV, DTV and DN you won't have any problems. The Birdog does have a few problems with certain birds (like Nimiq 82 for instance). There are several threads in the forum dealing with these issues.

kat

[kalhua]

What type of sats require the use of a universal LNBF?

[bobkat]

Some of the Atlantic sats apparently need a universal LNB; I have never tried one myself but have read threads on this forum dealing with universal LNBs.

kat

[kalhua]

Thanks for the help...... I was wondering when you are aiming the dish will it just tell you which satellite you are pointing at or do you need to know something additional. I mean as you are rotating the dish will different satellite signals popup with the cooresponding name?

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by kalhua

I was wondering when you are aiming the dish will it just tell you which satellite you are pointing at or do you need to know something additional. I mean as you are rotating the dish will different satellite signals popup with the cooresponding name?

No, you preselect the particular satellite you are looking for and when the Birdog finds that satellite it will beep and say "Found"; then you go to another screen and fine tune that sucker.

kat

[kalhua]

Oh OK, thanks for the info. Is there anyway to do a "Blind Seach" for sats? Is there any main advantages from one unit to another (10-Signaloc-Pro vs. Birdog)? I have not found alot written on the 10-signaloc-Pro. I just want to make sure I buy the best one since they are pretty expensive. I will only be using it for Sattelites availible in California

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by kalhua

Is there any main advantages from one unit to another (10-Signaloc-Pro vs. Birdog)? I have not found alot written on the 10-signaloc-Pro.

The 10-Signaloc-Pro is essentially the old Channel Master CM-1009. Here is a thread discussing both meters.

kat

---> http://sadoun.com/Forum/phpBB2/viewt...28aa2f 5dc9bc

[kalhua]

Ok well it sounds as if the BirDog is the way to go. I have read through the other threads and it seems as though there continues to be issues with the BirDog and Nimiq 1 & 2. Does the company provide good tech support for these type of issues?

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by kalhua

Ok well it sounds as if the BirDog is the way to go. I have read through the other threads and it seems as though there continues to be issues with the BirDog and Nimiq 1 & 2. Does the company provide good tech support for these type of issues?

The issues with the Nimiqs are not serious; my Birdog will find Nimiq 91 but not 82; but it will identify Nimiq 82 as 91 so its pretty easy to align the dish since the elevations of both birds are pretty much the same. I would go with the Birdog if I were you. Besides, you live in California !! Why would the Nimiqs even interest you ??? :lol: :lol: :wink:

kat

[johnewhite]

Originally Posted by bobkat

Besides, you live in California !! Why would the Nimiqs even interest you ??? :lol: :lol: :wink: kat

High Defintion Channels:
East (Boston) and West (Seattle) Coast feeds for ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox.
635-645

IMHO BirDog is the better choice.

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by johnewhite

High Defintion Channels:
East (Boston) and West (Seattle) Coast feeds for ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox.
635-645

IMHO BirDog is the better choice.

...and of course you are paying Bell ExpressVu for these channels... :lol:

It looks like one of these HD channels is FTA - that's kind of weird.

---> http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/expressvu2.html

...and I agree with you about the Birdog -- all things considered it is the better choice.

kat

[kalhua]

Well I just ordered the Birdog. Thanks for your input. Is there anything I should know about the Birdog itself? Thanks

[bobkat]

Well done, kalhua ....

Its a decision you won't regret - especially if you do lots of installations.

The only fault I can find with the Birdog is its somewhat short battery life between recharges - its really bad in the cold of winter - but I guess in CA that won't be an issue for you... :wink:

kat

Another tip - use a good quality test cable between the Birdog and the LNB; use good connectors - preferably compression type - the Birdog is not very forgiving toward shorts and loose connections... :shock:

If you will be using the Birdog all day long (as I do on the road doing installs) use the 12 Vdc mobile charger that comes with it to keep the meter batteries topped up as you drive between jobs. Nothing worse than weak batteries when you are "this close" to aligning the dish - plus its embarrasing to have to tell the custie you need to recharge your meter for a half hour or so -- unless they offer you some coolies to pass the time

The Birdog also makes a very handy "splitter detector" to find those pesky, hidden-in-finished-basements CATV splitters. The meter simply shuts itself off with an "I2C" error if there is a splitter in the coax somewhere.

Another neat thing about the Birdog is that it works through diplexers, DiSEqC switches and various DishNet/ExpressVu multiswitches like SW21s and SW44s -- not sure if it can handle the new DishPro switches...

All being said -- you will love your new Birdog... :wink:

kat

[johnewhite]

BirDog v2.20aUS found 82W (Nimiq 2). I verified that it is at 82W.

[bobkat]

Originally Posted by johnewhite

BirDog v2.20aUS found 82W (Nimiq 2). I verified that it is at 82W.

Really?? Wicked !!

I should update.. I'm using v 2.01aUS

Thanks

kat